Vermont Becomes First State to Make Marijuana Legal Through Its Legislature

Until today, all eight of the states that have made marijuana legal for adults did so through ballot initiatives. Over the past three elections in 2012, 2014, and 2016, voters in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada (and Washington, D.C.) approved ballot questions to legalize marijuana.

Today, we reached an important milestone in Vermont: a state legislature has enacted a law, signed by the governor, that legalizes possession and home cultivation of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older. H. 511 eliminates Vermont’s civil penalty for possessing one ounce or less of marijuana and removes penalties for possession of up to two mature marijuana plants and up to four immature plants for people 21 and older, beginning on July 1.

“After more than 15 years of hard work by MPP and our allies in the state, adults in Vermont no longer need to fear being fined or criminalized for low-level marijuana possession and cultivation,” said Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, in a press release. “This is a great step forward for the state and the whole region. Responsible adults will soon have the freedom to enjoy a safer option legally, and law enforcement will be free to concentrate on serious crimes with actual victims. We are looking forward to working with lawmakers and state leaders to continue improving marijuana laws in the Green Mountain State.”

Our coalition’s goal, this year or next, is to enact a law that regulates marijuana and allows for its legal sale (the newly enacted law only allows possession and home cultivation).

Related

13 responses to “Vermont Becomes First State to Make Marijuana Legal Through Its Legislature”

It’s past time for Kansas and all of the other states to get on board. I would understand if we were talking about crack or something of the sort, but this is no such thing and is not at all relevant to any hard drugs, alcohol, opioids, etc.

Kansas will be last to legalize, as the legislature is mostly Neanderthals. Kansas still jails pot smokers, especially young blacks. If legislators smoked pot they would become smiling humans….not likely this century.

I’m moving to Vermont or Mass. or Maine, or any other state on the eastern seaboard that has medical marijuana. I live in NC right now and I’m 64. I don’t have the time to waste on this backward state. They will be one of the last states to ever have it. For God sake people, if you are against it, pick up a book and educate your self about the plant. What was so great was when they put the plant on the cover of Time and Newsweek last Oct. I thought finally a breakthru! I have not heard one negative thing about pot, except out of Sessions’s uneducated mouth. I spent 8 months in Ca two yrs ago. A lot of people who grow their own trade it for other goods and services. People take it for granted. ITS no big deal people, and it’s not fair to the people who are in pain and don’t want to take opioids due to all the side effects but have to because of chronic pain. Yes, we are adults and we are responsible enough to handle it. Other states have already proved it. Good luck to everyone and I love MPP.

It’s high time that our governing mothers and fathers need to reform the federal marijuana laws. It’s obvious that caffeine is more dangerous than marijuana but is sold everywhere and without regulation or special taxation. Why should all the states go to such length when the feds should just repeal the law in the first place. The marijuana law was created after untruths and exaggerations. Before that it was sold in catalogs and drug stores.

Here in Texas, our GOV stated that marijuana will never becomes legalized while he is in office. His thoughts about marijuana are ridicules and his pockets are deep with money from medical co,tobacco and alcohol companies to include a lot of POS Republicans.

I just moved to Vermont and it wasn’t because of the law. I lived in Connecticut and they too are talking about making it legal soon. I’m just better off in Vermont than Connecticut all the way around. Now to find some seeds or young plants that are not too strong for my old body..lol The last time I smoked was in the 70s pot today is too strong for me from what my kids tell me but they said some places have a milder plant that would be good for my chronic pain and fibromyalgia. I’m looking forward to the summer.

I don’t think people realize that when we are able to have marijuana legally then it keeps it pure like it should be without all the additives. The drugs that the drug companies have for us have so much more harmful additives to them that we are suffering from other problems because of it. People like me that are allergic to many pain medications benefit from the medical marijuana. I believe all should have it available for so many ailments that it helps. I’m so proud of those states that have passed it to be available. We have a long way to go, but so happy that it is getting better. Thank you all that have pushed so hard for this to be legal.

I live in TX, & have been planning a move to a state in the Northeast for the last few years. I have Multiple Sclerosis as well as Degenerative Disc Disease. I live with horrible pain that begins when my eyes open each morning. At 52 years old, I take 14 prescriptions…most for pain, depression & anxiety. I could likely reduce or even eliminate MOST of them with marijuana.

The potential side effects of the drugs I take, including opiates, as well as the damage to my organs, is a massive downside to them. In fact they do not even work very well, & my depression & anxiety are still off the chart. Pot will be a major improvement to my daily quality of life. I keep trying to get to one of the progressive states where I envision a better “rest of my life”.

Hi Morgan,
I totally agree with you. The drugs we have to be on do not work after a while and trying to get the doctors to go up on them is like pulling teeth. Plus, they then look at us like we are common drug addicts. I suffer like you do with chronic pain. I had C-spine surgery in January which helped some of my pain but now I have limited movement of my neck. I still need pain meds or pot for the pain in my back and hips and knees. I live in Vermont and have to wait until July to be able to smoke to get any relief. My worry is that I won’t be able to afford the pot to help me. I have no idea how much it is nowadays. When I smoked pot as a kids in the 70s I paid 20.00 for an ounce. I feel that the state’s should go further and allow for insurance to help the people who need it like us. Even if insurance only pays a little it would be worth it. Until then I fear I may be stuck taking the pain meds that don’t work.
I pray you are able to get to a state that can help you soon. If not I pray that your state will come to it’s senses and allow for marijuana to be legal.

Blogroll

Meta

The opinions expressed by our viewers and posters do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Marijuana Policy Project. These views are those of their individual authors alone. MPP does not condone or support the illegal use of marijuana. We do encourage open and frank discussion, but if a comment has been posted that is in some way significantly inappropriate, please email us at [email protected] to report it. Thank you, and we're looking forward to what you think!

"Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use."
Former President Jimmy Carter, message to Congress, August 2, 1977